low light camera

[newlife]

i am looking to purchase a new camera that is especially good in low light. i have been reading and it seems the more i research the more confused i get

i really want to capture WDW at night and need an easy to use digital to do it

any advice would be greatly appreciated

thanks

 

[photo_chick]

Low light can be some of the more challenging shots to get and it really takes more know how than anything else. You can do it with just about any camera, but there will be limitations based on what you're using. The best bet for hand held low light shots right now is a DSLR with a good ISO range (3200 is good, 6400 is better, 12800 will let you shoot in near darkness) and then buy a fast prime lens to go with it. A fast prime is a fixed focal length lens that has a wide aperture to let more light in.

 

[newlife]

thank you danielle

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

When you say "...easy to use digital...", what do you mean? Are you thinking a point and shoot? A DSLR camera has automatic modes making them quite
"easy" to use. As you learn more about photography, a DSLR will allow you to expand and/or explore the many more areas of photography. There are Point and Shoot's that have manual controls that will allow you to shoot in the conditions of which you speak. Shooting at night for stationary subjects is not that difficult because all you really need is to stabilize the camera (tripod etc). When shooting moving objects/people at night, then it takes more advanced technique/equipment.

If you could elaborate more on what you're looking for and your budget it may help to formulate a recommendation.

 

[newlife]

When you say "...easy to use digital...", what do you mean? Are you thinking a point and shoot? A DSLR camera has automatic modes making them quite
"easy" to use. As you learn more about photography, a DSLR will allow you to expand and/or explore the many more areas of photography. There are Point and Shoot's that have manual controls that will allow you to shoot in the conditions of which you speak. Shooting at night for stationary subjects is not that difficult because all you really need is to stabilize the camera (tripod etc). When shooting moving objects/people at night, then it takes more advanced technique/equipment.


If you could elaborate more on what you're looking for and your budget it may help to formulate a recommendation.

i agree with what you said that i need to be more specific as to what i want.

a point and shoot i already have but i want to step up to a DSLR. i want to have a camera where i can change lenses easily to take telephoto pics and wide angle photos also. i also would like to have a DSLR that is very good in low light situations. like WDW at night. i think i have to manually change the iso settings to accomplish this but i am sure that the actual camera will play a part in how the low light pictures turn out.



i can wait to buy some lenses until i master the camera first. i would psend about 700 - 800 dollars.

thanks

 

[sukhakuli]

I'm the same way, I want a DSLR that is good in low light. And it's not a matter of knowing how to use it, I have been shooting with SLR's for over a decade. My current digital camera (nikon D40) struggles in low light, and has a lot of noise. It's one thing when I am taking posed photos with a tripod and remote to get a good shot in low light conditions, but if I am chasing kids around WDW after dark, I need something that performs well in low light. I have been wanting to upgrade my equipment for years, but I just can't find anything out there that has what I want it to have.

I want medium or full frame. I don't want it to be too heavy (how long does it take to manually focus a rangefinder, I wonder? Can you use it and chase kids around?), and I want low noise in low light conditions. It's obviously too much to ask, lol. So I'm stuck with the D40 until I find something I want, lol.

 

[boBQuincy]

Canon just announced your camera! The new 1DX has ISO 51,200 with expansion to 204,000! Price is a little high at ~ $7000 but all kidding aside this shows where things are going. We can expect some of this technology to trickle down to affordable cameras in the next year or two.

For now the current crop of prosumer APS-C cameras with a f/1.4 lens should work to capture almost anything we can see.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I'm the same way, I want a DSLR that is good in low light. And it's not a matter of knowing how to use it, I have been shooting with SLR's for over a decade. My current digital camera (nikon D40) struggles in low light, and has a lot of noise. It's one thing when I am taking posed photos with a tripod and remote to get a good shot in low light conditions, but if I am chasing kids around WDW after dark, I need something that performs well in low light. I have been wanting to upgrade my equipment for years, but I just can't find anything out there that has what I want it to have.

I want medium or full frame. I don't want it to be too heavy (how long does it take to manually focus a rangefinder, I wonder? Can you use it and chase kids around?), and I want low noise in low light conditions. It's obviously too much to ask, lol. So I'm stuck with the D40 until I find something I want, lol.

You are using a 6mp camera with five year old technology. There have been huge gains since your camera was new. In Nikon's APS-C format they offer two cameras, D5100 and D7000, with arguably the best sensor ever offered to this point. Its a Sony 16.2 sensor that not only Sony uses, but Nikon and Pentax. It has great usable ISO range for those lowlight conditions and when paired with fast glass will give you great results. And as the PP stated there if you wanted to switch brands there is the new FF camera Canon. There are many new cameras out there that will meet your requirements.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

i agree with what you said that i need to be more specific as to what i want.

a point and shoot i already have but i want to step up to a DSLR. i want to have a camera where i can change lenses easily to take telephoto pics and wide angle photos also. i also would like to have a DSLR that is very good in low light situations. like WDW at night. i think i have to manually change the iso settings to accomplish this but i am sure that the actual camera will play a part in how the low light pictures turn out.



i can wait to buy some lenses until i master the camera first. i would psend about 700 - 800 dollars.

thanks

All the brands make great entry level cameras, Nikon 3100/5100, Sony A33/A35/A560/A580, Canon T21/T3i, Pentax Kr. I would recommend that you handle as many as possible to ascertain if the ergonomics and menus fit your needs. As far as value, IMO the Pentax Kr is a good value right now. I am a Pentax shooter so keep that in mind, but if it wasn't a good value I wouldn't say so. You can get the camera body and two lens kit (18-55 and 55-300) for $710. This is an excellent entry/mid level camera with very good usable ISO which helps in those lowlight conditions. The lenses are good consumer lenses, but they will struggle on the WDW dark rides. For those you would need faster glass (which means more $$). With a tripod and remote, you will be able to get great fireworks shots. Again, I recommend you put hands on the cameras to see what works for you.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'm the same way, I want a DSLR that is good in low light. And it's not a matter of knowing how to use it, I have been shooting with SLR's for over a decade. My current digital camera (nikon D40) struggles in low light, and has a lot of noise. It's one thing when I am taking posed photos with a tripod and remote to get a good shot in low light conditions, but if I am chasing kids around WDW after dark, I need something that performs well in low light. I have been wanting to upgrade my equipment for years, but I just can't find anything out there that has what I want it to have.

I want medium or full frame. I don't want it to be too heavy (how long does it take to manually focus a rangefinder, I wonder? Can you use it and chase kids around?), and I want low noise in low light conditions. It's obviously too much to ask, lol. So I'm stuck with the D40 until I find something I want, lol.

You might also look at the Sony NEX line. APS-C sensor in the size of a larger p&s. It does VERY well in low light because of the large sensor. Slowly more lenses are becoming available but b/c it's mirrorless you can get adaptors and use virtually any line of lenses on it although they will be manual focus. I bought the NEX3 and have used it 3 times as much as anything else since getting it. And the NEX-5N sensor rates very highly.

 

[sukhakuli]

How heavy is the new Canon? That's kind of my thing about the DSLR's - they weigh a lot. When I pull out my film SLR's it's like night and day with the weight. Lately I have been using my iphone when I'm out with the kids because I hate lugging my DSLR around.

I find the Leica M9 to be appealing, except for the auto focus issue, because it's just so small and discreet. I want a DSLR like that. As it is, the D40 is fairly light, so I keep it around until I find something that has everything I want.

 

[photo_chick]

How heavy is the new Canon? That's kind of my thing about the DSLR's - they weigh a lot. When I pull out my film SLR's it's like night and day with the weight. Lately I have been using my iphone when I'm out with the kids because I hate lugging my DSLR around.

I find the Leica M9 to be appealing, except for the auto focus issue, because it's just so small and discreet. I want a DSLR like that. As it is, the D40 is fairly light, so I keep it around until I find something that has everything I want.

The Leica M9 is small because it's not a DSLR. Like the 35mm Leica M Rangefinders it has no mirror for TTL viewing. You'd also find it heavier than most entry level DSLR's because the construction is better. Comparing it to a DSLR is kind of like comparing oranges to lemons. They're both citrus, but its a very different experience using them when you get down to it.

 

[krb2g]

You are using a 6mp camera with five year old technology. There have been huge gains since your camera was new. In Nikon's APS-C format they offer two cameras, D5100 and D7000, with arguably the best sensor ever offered to this point. Its a Sony 16.2 sensor that not only Sony uses, but Nikon and Pentax. It has great usable ISO range for those lowlight conditions and when paired with fast glass will give you great results. And as the PP stated there if you wanted to switch brands there is the new FF camera Canon. There are many new cameras out there that will meet your requirements.

Thanks for this info (I'm also a D40 user)--and while I've found that I can do most things I'd like with that camera, I would like better low-light photography and the ability to auto-bracket my exposures. Not that I can afford a new body....

 

[boBQuincy]

How heavy is the new Canon? That's kind of my thing about the DSLR's - they weigh a lot. When I pull out my film SLR's it's like night and day with the weight. Lately I have been using my iphone when I'm out with the kids because I hate lugging my DSLR around.

I find the Leica M9 to be appealing, except for the auto focus issue, because it's just so small and discreet. I want a DSLR like that. As it is, the D40 is fairly light, so I keep it around until I find something that has everything I want.

The Canon 1Dx is heavy, really heavy! If a Leica M9 suits your style then you may like the new Sony Nex-7: 24 MP; autofocus; compact; and plenty of manual controls. Another one you may like is Panasonic's G3.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

The Leica M9 is small because it's not a DSLR. Like the 35mm Leica M Rangefinders it has no mirror for TTL viewing. You'd also find it heavier than most entry level DSLR's because the construction is better. Comparing it to a DSLR is kind of like comparing oranges to lemons. They're both citrus, but its a very different experience using them when you get down to it.

Agreed. My nephew purchased one this summer and with the heavy Leica lens it has a substantial feel to it and just doesn't easily compare to a DSLR. He is pretty good at focusing with it but is keeping his Canon 7D for fast action shooting.